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The Portland Trail Blazers have learned from disastrous 2016 offseason

By Austin Carroll

PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 3: General Manager, Neil Olshey and C.J. McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers speak before the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 3, 2015 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 3: General Manager, Neil Olshey and C.J. McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers speak before the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 3, 2015 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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In the summer of 2016, the landscape of the NBA would change forever. The Portland Trail Blazers were one of many who fell victim to a historic offseason.

Over time, the 2016 NBA offseason has become synonymous with regret and bad decisions, the Portland Trail Blazers are no exception to this rule. A handful of bad contracts dolled out to mediocre players left the team in purgatory.

Instead of agreeing to a cap smoothing, the NBA player’s union forced the league to spike the salary cap in 2016. This resulted in many teams having an unprecedented amount of money to spend, and was the only reason the Warriors were in a financial position to acquire a player like Kevin Durant and establish a dynasty.

Other teams — like the Portland Trail Blazers — were not so lucky.

Portland’s 2016 Offseason:

  • Signed Evan Turner to a four-year, $70 million contract
  • Signed rookie Jake Layman to a three-year, $2.7 million contract
  • Re-signed Meyers Leonard to a four-year, $41 million extension
  • Matched Brooklyn’s offer sheet and re-signed Allen Crabbe to a four-year, $75 million extension
  • Re-signed CJ McCollum to a four-year, $106 million extension

As you can assume, making a long-term commitment of $295 million to an exceptionally average bunch of players outside of CJ McCollum left the team struggling to reach its lofty goals in pursuit of a championship.

Despite being financially handicapped, the team succeeded in the face of adversity. Now free for the shackles of these albatross financial commitments, the Blazers look poised to field possibly their most competitive team in a very long time.

With the Golden State dynasty coming to its long-awaited end, and the playing field looking more balanced than ever, now was the perfect opportunity to strike. Thankfully, the Blazers clearly learned from their prior mistakes.

Portland’s 2019 Offseason:

  • Traded Evan Turner for Kent Bazemore
  • Traded Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard for Hassan Whiteside
  • Signed rookie Nassir Little to a four-year, $10.8 million contract
  • Re-signed Rodney Hood to a one-year, $5.7 million contract with a player option
  • Signed Mario Hezonja to a minimum contract ($1.7 million)
  • Signed Anthony Tolliver to a minimum contract ($2.5 million)
  • Signed Pau Gasol to a minimum contract ($2.5 million)

The Portland Trail Blazers made out like bandits this offseason in comparison to their 2016 decisions. Instead of committing a truck load of money to risky role players, the Blazers instead negotiated low-cost, short-term deals that won’t handcuff the team moving forward.

They instead committed that money to their franchise stars in Damian Lillard and McCollum, handing out huge contract extensions to each at a total of $296 million. Those extensions will kick in at the start of the 2021-22 season. Prioritizing known commodities and taking care of your own was an excellent move that hopefully communicates Portland’s culture to other players in the league.

Making trades for Kent Bazemore and Hassan Whiteside were also clear wins, picking up two talented players on expiring contracts without giving up any draft capital. These moves instantly improve the team without any consequences in the future.

Next. 3 options to add a third star next to Dame and CJ. dark

There’s no questioning this Portland Trail Blazers team is incredibly talented. They fought their way to the Western Conference Finals after all. However, smart management up top and this summer’s savvy transactions could be what they were missing all along. It might be time to start taking this Blazers team serious as a genuine championship threat.